Safety Interlock System; Engaging The Parking Brake; Setting The Cutting Height; Starting The Engine - Craftsman 247.289150 Operator's Manual

Safety interlock System
Thesafetyinterlock systemisdesigned forsafeoperationof the tractor.If this
system shouldevermalfunction, d o notoperatethe tractor,immediately contact
1-800-4-MY-HOME to havethe system serviced.
Thesafetyinterlocksystemprevents the enginefromstartingunless
the parkingbrakeisengaged andthe PTO (BladeEngage) leverisin the
disengaged (OFF) p osition.
Thesafetyinterlocksystemwill automatically shutoffthe engineif the
operator leaves the seatbeforeengaging the parkingbrake.
Thesafetyinterlocksystemwill automatically shutoff the engineif the
operator leaves the tractor'sseatwith the PTO (Blade Engage) l everengaged,
regardless o f whetherthe parkingbrakeisengaged.
Engagingthe ParkingBrake
To engage the parking brake:
1. Fullydepress t he parkingparkingbrakepedalandholdit downwith your
foot.
2. Movethe parkingbrakeleverall the waydown andinto the parkingbrake
(ON) p osition.
3. Release t he parkingparkingbrakepedalto allowthe parkingbrake to
engage.
To release the
parking
brake:
1. Depress t he parkingparkingbrakepedal a ndmovethe parkingbrakelever
out of the parkingbrake(ON)positionandinto the OFF position.
Setting the CuttingHeight
1. Select t he heightpositionof the cuttingdeckbyplacingthe decklift leverin
anyof the sixdifferentcuttingheightnotches on the right side of the fender.
2. Adjustthe deckwheelssothatthey arebetween1g-inch and1/2-inch a bove
the groundwhenthe tractorisonasmooth, f lat surface such asa driveway.
3. Adjustthe deckwheelsbyremoving the flangelocknut andshoulder b olt
thatsecures eachwheelandmovingit into oneof the holes that allows
the wheels to be between1g-inch and1/2-inch above the groundwhen the
tractorisonasmooth, f lat surface such asa driveway. S eeFigure 9.
f
Keep hands andfeetaway from the discharge o peningof the cuttingdeck.
NOTE: Thedeckwheels areananti-scalp featureof the deckandarenot designed
to supportthe weightof the cuttingdeck.Referto Leveling inthe Service a nd
Maintenance s ectionof thismanual f ormoredetailedinstructionsregarding various
deckadjustments.
Starting the Engine
Donot operatethe tractorif the interlock systemis malfunctioning. T hissystem
wasdesigned foryoursafetyandprotection.
NOTE: R efer t o the Gasoline andOilfill-up instructions earlierinthissection.
1. Insertthe tractorkeyintothe ignitionswitch.
2. Place the PTO (Blade Engage) l everinthe disengaged (OFF) position.
3. Engage the tractor'sparkingbrake.
4. Activatethe chokecontrolbymovingthe throttle/chokeleverall the wayup
intothe chokeposition.
5. Turnthe ignitionkeyclockwise to the START p osition. A fterthe enginestarts,
release the key.It will returnto the ON(orNormal M owing)position. S ee
Figure 10.
DoNOT holdthe keyinthe START positionforlongerthantenseconds atatime.
Doing somaycause damage to yourengine's electricstarter.
6. Afterthe enginestarts,deactivatethechokecontrolandplacethethrottle
controlinthe FAST p osition.
NOTE: D oNOT leavethe chokecontrol o nwhileoperatingthe tractor.Doing sowill
resultina"rich"fuel mixtureandcause the engineto run poorly.
f
Oil
off
Start
Figure9
14
Figure 1 0